Economic Development
Economic Development Initiatives:
Over the years I have secured hundreds of thousands of dollars for organizations in my district, especially the art organizations and small business, which are the driving force of the economy in Philadelphia. My office helps emerging small business owners make their successful way through the city bureaucracy so that they can bring jobs, goods, and services to the district and to Philadelphia. I also have secured funding for organizations that keep our streets clean and well lit.
The First Industries Fund is a grant and loan program aimed at strengthening Pennsylvania's agriculture and tourism industries. The First Industries Fund is part of PA Grows, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's new initiative designed to assist agricultural producers in gaining access to the capital they need to begin, continue, or expand their businesses. I supported this and am a proponent of the First Initiative Programs.
I voted for Growing Greener II, a landmark law that invests $625 million in our environment and communities. I voted for provisions under Growing Greener II that would direct monies to "brown fields" in urban areas. I agree with Pennsylvania voters who overwhelmingly approved this investment, because they believe the Commonwealth must do more to promote tourism by protecting us, our environment, our open spaces, and by creating jobs in our community.
Minimum Wage Increase:
I have been a cosponsor and supporter of bills to raise the minimum wage in the state since the beginning of my career in the House. I know that two thirds of minimum wage workers are women, most with dependents to support. They are not solely teenagers earning "pin money", as opponents of the wage increase would have us believe. I believe we ought to respect work by paying higher wages than are now required. With heating fuel, gasoline, health care and food prices going up, working Pennsylvanians deserve a decent family sustaining wage.
I support Art Zone legislation in order to encourage the development of fledgling arts and cultural venues in the city and the neighborhood. I co-sponsored legislation for Art Zones with House Bill 2119.
I am unalterably committed to making a quality public education available to every young person in this state. I work for state funding so that school districts can offer quality educational experience in preschools and all day kindergartens. I also stand by the belief that education is life long and extends well into adulthood and retirement.
My working philosophy is that we cannot have sustained economic development nor maintain our economic lead in the world unless we have a diverse workforce and respect for every individual's civil and cultural rights.
Tax Relief
I support using gambling monies to provide wage tax relief to Philadelphia workers, residents and non-residents alike because I believe that this will help our current businesses thrive and bring in new businesses and jobs to our city. Because of the rising costs of heating, transportation, healthcare, and just about everything I think some of this gambling money should also be used for property tax relief especially for retirees on fixed incomes, disabled individuals, long time residents, and first time home buyers who all feel the pinch of the increased cost of living.
Babette Responds to Constituents:
Raising the Minimum Wage
July 19, 2005
Dear Constituent:
Thank you for your support of raising the Pennsylvania minimum wage.
I have voted to raise the minimum wage over the years, and this session I am a cosponsor of the current bill in the House.
I understand that most minimum wage workers are women with dependents to support, not solely teenagers earning "pin money," as opponents would have us believe. I also understand that since we encourage everyone who can work to be employed, we ought to respect that work by paying higher wages than are now required. With heating fuel, gasoline, health care, and food prices going up, working Pennsylvanians deserve a decent family sustaining wage. Additionally, I know that a number of important close-by states have just raised their minimum wage, the most recent of which is New Jersey. If we do not raise our wage soon, we will lose valuable workers to New Jersey and other jurisdictions.
The minimum wage is a difficult issue to win in a Republican dominated legislature, but I will not give up. The welfare of working people, their families, and the economy of the state are too important to me.
Yours,
Babette Josephs
Gross Receipts Tax on Mobile Phones
July 19, 2005
Transmitted via e-mail
Dear Interested Parties:
Thank you for contacting me about House Bill 338, legislation which would alter the way Pennsylvania taxes telephone calls from both land lines and mobile phones.
You make a convincing argument for rescinding the Gross Receipts Tax (GRT) on mobile phones, but I always look at tax issues for fairness. I think there must be a level playing field between land lines and mobiles. Currently, both are subject to the GRT. If we were to repeal the GRT on mobile phones only, the companies controlling land lines would be at a competitive disadvantage.
The second way to look at fairness concerns the ultimate taxpayer. Proponents of repealing the GRT on wireless phones argue that the elimination of the tax will lead to the creation of more jobs, because corporations will have additional money to invest in infrastructure. In actuality the GRT is passed on to consumers such as yourself. If we repeal the tax, it is likely the wireless provider will its raise charges to you equal or close to the amount of the tax that was repealed. When H.B. 338 is before the House, I intend to introduce an amendment that would force mobile companies to pass their savings on to their customers. I certainly do not want to discriminate against land line companies and deprive the commonwealth of tax revenue we need if mobile phone taxpayers are not going to get any benefit. If my amendment does not pass, I will not vote for the repeal.
H.B. 338 moved from the Finance Committee this June and presumably will be considered by the full House of Representatives some time in the fall session.
Yours,
Babette Josephs